As an advocate for truck safety, however, I am angry because this crash, and the fatalities it caused, could have been avoided by requiring two common-sense improvements on large trucks: stronger rear underride guards and automatic emergency braking.

Underride crashes have been identified as a problem dating back to the 1950s. Since that time, the government has required a woefully inadequate and antiquated standard that many times renders useless a car’s protections, like airbag deployment and a crumple zone. Consequently, there is passenger compartment intrusion, which results in truly horrific crashes, like this one.

Automatic emergency braking is a much newer solution than underride guards for reducing truck crashes, but the technology is being developed and employed rapidly. In fact, all major car companies will require automatic emergency braking by 2022. There is no reason why trucks, which take much longer to stop than cars, should not be equipped with it, too.

Here at MaineToday Media we value our readers and are committed to growing our community by encouraging you to add to the discussion.

To ensure conscientious dialogue we have implemented a strict no-bullying policy. To participate, you must follow our Terms of Use. Click here to flag and report a comment that violates our terms of use.

wollydevil

If you want trucks to slow down make them go 55 on the interstate and the pike

tet1953

That could be counter productive. With the speed limit for everyone else at 70, there would be a lot more passing happening that could lead to accidents.

wollydevil

By law i can go 55 in a 70 mph zone

Midwinter

A great way to cause a pileup when traffic is going 75-80mph.

Just because you can does not mean you should.

wollydevil

Than get the minimum speed raised

Midwinter

You cant legislate common sense.. If you kill someone by driving ridiculously slow you will carry that the rest of your life.

Same holds true to those who speed in excess of 90mph then weave in and out of traffic. It’s just as dangerous and can cause a pileup.

If one can’t keep up with traffic due to age or disability, it’s time to send in your drivers license and find other means of transportation…

wollydevil

Then there need to be more cops on the road

Midwinter

See my 1st & 2nd reply to you.

Moderate Conservative

Montana has lower speed limits for trucks and for nighttime driving. I-90 actually has four different speed limits in most locations in the state.

RichardBroderickJr

When the conditions are so bad that the speed limit is lowered to 45 mph on the interstate, then big trucks should be prohibited from the passing lane. When in the passing lane under bad conditions, these trucks place other motorists in a very dangerous “white out” condition.

Some truckers don’t care, that’s why we need the change in law.

axion56

Another simple enforcement for truck safety would be to have the weigh/check stations open more . It’s a rarity to see them open . I guess DOT monitors these and not State cops , but all too often cops are in u-turn lanes , watching ( not stopping ) speeders , why can’t they ck log books , truck weights , unsafe brakes , defective tires , and other violations that put all motorists at risk . These fines seem like they’d off set the cost of DOT , or State Police time spent as well as make roads safer . Most states in other parts of the country are much stricter .